Ray Fittipaldo

Published on Nov. 2, 2011

Nov. 2, 2011

Jim Boeheim knows the drill. As the coach of one of college basketball’s best programs, Boeheim recruits elite talent every year, watches them head to the pros before their eligibility expires and then goes about recruiting more of the most talented players available.

Boeheim won his only national championship with Carmelo Anthony, a one-and-done player, in 2002-03 and has had a steady parade of players leave the program early since then. After the 2009-10 season, Wes Johnson left for the NBA. The year before that, Boeheim had three starters — Jonny Flynn, Paul Harris and Eric Devendorf — turn pro early.

Not that the Orange have suffered from the early departures. Boeheim won 30 games and his ninth Big East regular-season championship in 2009-10 and notched 27 victories last season. However, it makes one wonder what he could accomplish in a season when no one left the program early.

Boeheim gets that opportunity this season. Four starters return, and there are renewed hopes that the Orange can contend for another national title.

Kris Joseph, Scoop Jardine and Brandon Triche started every game, and each averaged double figures in scoring last season. Joseph (14.3 points per game) was the Orange’s top scorer in 2010-11 and is just 20 points shy of 1,000 for his career.

Joseph has increased his scoring production each season and could have a breakout campaign in 2011-12. He scored 20-plus points seven times last season.

“Motivation is so high," Joseph said. "We know what we’re capable of. We know what people expect of us, but we know what we’re capable of and we know that those expectations, we can exceed them, if we all do the right things.”

Jardine (12.5 points) can create an offense for himself and for others. He tied for the league lead in assists with 5.9 per game last year. Jardine can be even more dangerous if he shoots the ball better as a senior. His field-goal percentage dropped from 48.9 in 2009-10 to 41.5, and his 3-pointers from 38.9 to 35.7 percent. He spent the summer playing for Team USA at the World University Games, and he says that experience will pay off this season.

“Yeah, for the most part basketball is an all-year sport, and this summer I got my body in shape," Jardine said. "I never really had time to slack off because I had so many camps and different things that kept me in shape and got me ready for this season. And I’m very excited, like I’m coming in as a freshman.

"This is my last year, and I want to make it a fun year. I’ve got a great team and a great coaching staff, and we just have to keep working and things will come together.”

Triche (11.1 points) also can boost his offensive production by regaining his shooting form from two seasons ago. Triche’s 3-point percentage fell from 40.0 to 33.3 last year.

"I would be disappointed if our back court play isn't a lot better," Boeheim said. "And I think it was good last year. I think it can be a lot better. I think it will be a lot better this year. The reason that people expect a lot from us is we have veteran guards back, veteran small forward, and a lot of guys who have played.”

Syracuse lists center Baye Moussa Keita as its other returning starter, but fellow sophomore Fab Melo started 24 games to Keita’s 10 a year ago.

Melo had a troubled freshman year. After beginning the season as the starter, he was benched two games for missing a practice. He recorded his only two double-figure scoring games after the benching but finished the season averaging just 2.3 points per game, a major disappointment for someone who came in with high expectations after being named a McDonald’s All-American.

“I think he’s just in better condition," Boeheim said. "He’s more ready, and he’s understanding more of what it is about. I think he’s in better shape and better able to get up and down. He’s always had good skills. He’s just got to get up and down better, and I think he’s doing that. He’s very active, going after balls and there are a lot of positives from both him and Baye."

Over the summer, Melo was charged with criminal mischief after an altercation with his girlfriend in Syracuse. His court hearing has been delayed five times and is now scheduled for Nov. 30, but he isn't expected to miss any games.

Keita (2.2 points) didn’t offer much in terms of low-post scoring punch last year, though he did prove to be a more effective rebounder.

There is no shortage of talent competing for the other starting position and other spots in the rotation. The leading candidate to win the power forward spot vacated by Rick Jackson is 6-8 sophomore C.J. Fair (6.4 points), but he could receive a challenge from Rakeem Christmas, a 6-9 McDonald’s All-American who also can play center. Christmas is a part of a freshman class that is ranked among the best in the nation.

Syracuse is stacked with depth in the backcourt. Juniors Mookie Jones (3.5 points) and James Southerland (4.9 points) came off the bench last season, as did sophomore Dion Waiters (6.6 points).

“(Minimizing turnovers) is going to be a big thing," Jardine said. "We have a veteran backcourt with Brandon Triche and myself, and Dion’s a sophomore now, so we shouldn’t turn the ball over a lot. We should be a very patient team and get great shots. We know our offense – Triche has been a starter for three years, I’m a second-year starter and fifth-year player, so we know the offense well.”

The other two incoming freshmen are guards. Michael Carter-Williams is a 6-5 McDonald’s All-American, and 6-4 guard Trevor Cooney won a state championship for his high school team in Delaware last season.

Boeheim, who is looking for a 34th 20-win season, has all the pieces to make a run at a second NCAA title. But if there has been one criticism of Boeheim lately, it’s that his teams have not played up to expectations in March. In the eight seasons since the national title, Boeheim has made the NCAA Tournament six times, but the Orange haven’t gotten past the Sweet 16.

“I think we’ve had good depth the last couple of years," Boeheim said. "I think this year we probably have the opportunity to have the most depth that we’ve ever had. I think there are two things about that that are good. One, your practices are more competitive. I think five or six days a week you are getting the kind of competition in practice that is going to make you a better player. I think that really makes your team better.

"I think there have been some years where we have had six or seven real good players and I don’t think we have had as competitive of practices as we liked to have in those situations. So I think that’s a tremendous plus for this team that we’re going to have competitive days every day in practice."